SOC 105 Social Problems

Overview of Course

Ours is a time of uneasiness as we confront social problems that are more far-reaching, complex, and multidimensional than before. Crises have taken on a planetary scope informed by economic inequality, climate disruption, pandemics, and international cultural/political polarization. The interconnectedness of these problems collectively amplifies one another in ways compounding their impact worldwide. Vexing social problems necessitate adoption of a globally informed approach that explores their consequences for societies, local communities, and in our everyday lives.
This course introduces students to the study of social problems through a comparative, global lens that draws from a variety of sociological perspectives. In journeying together on Semester at Sea, we will analyze the structural conditions driving social problems along with the deeply personal, lived experience of these problems across the globe. Rather than treating social problems separately, issues such as colonialism, poverty, social-isolation, migration, and even the emergence of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence are understood to be historically interconnected.
A central goal of the course is to cultivate a recognition of social problems as social constructions. Students will engage with multiple worldviews from across the planet as they discuss and debate what constitutes a social problem. This includes the often-overlooked voices, perspectives, and experiences of marginalized people. This approach encourages students to question not only the taken-for-granted assumptions about what social problems are, but to acknowledge that the desire to seek solutions to social problems is interwoven into the very fabric of social life in a globalized world.